Sold my 5th Gen for a Tundra. Might be coming back.

I traded in my mildly modified 2019 SR5 4Runner for a used 2021 Tundra 1794 Edition. Over the past year or so, I have been modifying the Tundra to be more off-road capable and more useful for a variety of tasks.

I added a 2" front lift, 33" tires, Decked bed system, custom rims, custom exhaust, CAI, fender flares, Canopy roof rack system, and interior upgrades in the form of seat covers, floor mats, and phone mounts.

Despite all of those mods, and a year of daily driving the Tundra, I am still unable to confidently pull into a parking spot. This thing feels like a giant tank and is nearly impossible to park without making corrections. Weird. I am a former US Army 12B Tank Captain and loved maneuvering my M60 AVLB into tight spots.

The Tundra just feels "off".

The 4Runner felt perfect in all conditions, except highway road trips. Mine was an SR5 with a 2" lift and 33's. It also had a basket roof rack. Going down the interstate at 75 mph was torturous. The wind noise and constant transmission downshifting was annoying.

After my last awful road trip in 2023, I vowed to buy a more comfortable vehicle. The Tundra is awesome on the open road. The 1794 Edition has all the bells and whistles and the 400hp V8 is wonderful to listen to.

But...

I have done zero road trips since buying the Tundra. I have driven it to work hundreds of times, and taken it into the woods about a dozen times. It is a capable off-road vehicle with just a mild 2" lift and 33" tires, but feels like I am piloting an oil tanker down a dirt road.

I'm thinking that a new 2024 TRD Off-Road 4Runner might be a perfect compromise. If I limit the suspension lift to 2" and aggressive 33" AT tires, then a nice front bumper replacement and some upgraded armor should make a great daily driver and weekend explorer.

My biggest complaint about the 4Runner SR5 was the noise and buzziness on the interstate. I'm hoping that upgrading to the TRD Off-Road with leather interior will address those issues.

 

The 4Runner’s width (76”) was a plus for me. I happened to test drive a Passport (78.5”) that itself felt awfully wide and that’s before we get to a full-size pickup’s 80”.

I’m thinking if we skip the roof rack and go for a less aggressive or different AT it would make the most difference but I’m not sure I’d expect much difference between an SR5 and TRD OR trim in overall ride noise since equipment is similar not counting the extra off-road bits and bobs.

 

No baskets! that kills you on the highway. If you need a basket type rack get the trd pro rack or a low profile roof rack.

 

I’ve owned a plethora of 5th gens and currently own a 23 trd off road 4Runner and I’ve owned a 21 limited trd tundra. For road trips tundra no question beats the 4Runner no questions asked, it’s literally like a caddilac or better with the beautiful smooth v8, I did a trip from SoCal to grand Tetons and the drive there and back an absolute pleasure, I personally thought the sears in the tundra were more comfortable as well

the rest of the stuff you mentioned is pretty much true, for almost everything else 4Runner is better granted two entirely different vehicles

 

I've owned every brand of pick up available on the market....in and out of the USA. I can tell you the 1794 is one of the smoothest trucks on the highway! But, yes, it is a hassle when it comes to parking and/or any tight space. All full size trucks are truthfully (do normal consumers actually need the full size trucks?) Regardless, the pickups have their use. My current daily is a 22 4Runner ORP and truthfully, I love it. I do miss an open bed sometimes but the 4runner is just comfortable enough on most trips. Yes, on the highway its not the best but it was never meant to be. I have a basket on mine too. I found some "low profile" rack mounts for it and it brings the basket nice an low (almost flush with the rails). That helps some with drag but not much. I've been debating taking it off for sometime now but, and this is the only legitimate reasons i can think of right now, it helps me find my 4runner in a parking lot.

 

The basket will generate a lot of wind noise, but other than that, it's the same vehicle and you'll most likely have the same complaints. There's nothing about the TRD or Premium that would be any different.

 

This is all I’m going to say. Yes I loved my 21 tundra Pro for 2 and half years. I don’t miss it. Love being back in the 4runner. All depends on your situation. Me personally the 4runner is better fit for me.

 

Maybe a GX460 would suit your needs as a more comfortable road trip vehicle. The V8 and 6 speed will be more pleasant to drive on the highway, I'm sure.

 

I have a Yakima basket on top of my Venture. Came that way. Use it a lot, so left it on there - but you're right about the noise. No doubt it's up there being jammed into the wind. Anything over about 50mph. Even worse when we've got a couple of Yeti's sitting up there. But on the wife's Limited... no basket. Quiet as any body-on-frame SUV.

So, on loooooooong road trips, we take the Limited then end-up missing the utility of the Venture. We're conflicted about which one to take a lot of times.

One of our kids had a Tundra TRD Pro until this year (traded it for a new GMC diesel 3/4 ton) and one thing is for sure. My Venture is quieter than either one of those on the highway - even though my Venture is lifted an inch in front and is running KO2's. Hope you end up with another Gen 5 Runner. The 24 may be the last of the great ones with that bulletproof drivetrain.

 

^^^THIS^^^

 

The turning radius on 5th Gen 4runners is terrible compared to Xterras and Broncos.

 

But, you bought one anyway. What's your point?

 

I had a 2015 Tundra Double Cab. Traded it in for my T4R TRDP. Best move made for my needs. I also hated navigating through tightly packed parking lots. I knew how to park but others didn’t. Had a few door dings from idiot people that parked next to me. The Wide width of the Tundra didn’t help either.

I do miss the use of the full-size bed but found that I probably used it 10% of the time I’ve owned the truck.

I would say most people that drive trucks use the bed less than 10% of the time also.

Kind of a waste IMO. I’ll just rent a trailer or a truck if I really need to haul large, heavy or rock/soil type of materials.

 

Wind noise: Get a different rack. Constant transmission downshifting: Drive in S4.

 

The TRD offroad doesn't have leather, it has toyota's soft tex vinyl. The 4runner is just noisey because it's built cheap.

 

Your issues with your Tundra mirror my issues with my GMC 1500 AT4 with the 3.0L diesel. It was great on the highway, got great price per mile economy (<.15/mi), and was insanely comfortable.

It was entirely too big anywhere else. Kudos to people who drive full size vehicles on the daily, but it’s not for me.

I have to drive on the interstate for work 3x a week at 70mph through rolling hills. The downshifting and noise from the basket can get a little annoying, but I can live with this. It’s way less noise than my old soft top rubicon

 

If it's just highway performance that bothers you, you might consider waiting for the 2025 4Runner. Speculations are that it will come with a turbocharged 4-banger backed by an 8 speed transmission. If the engine is similar to what is now going in the Tacoma it will have more horsepower and more torque than the current 4.0 V6....and the torque will come in at much lower rpm which will help with the shifting down problem.

 

That a 4runner might not solve the OPs point of having to Austin Power's it in and out of a parking lot.

 

Certainly better than a Tundra. And, can't say I've ever had a problem getting my 4R in and out of parking spots.

 

My work daily is an F350 long bed with no cameras or sensors. Before my 4Runner I was driving a Raptor everywhere. The 4Runner is like a go-cart compared to those two trucks, but I never had an issue with either. If I didn't need the payload, I would love a Tundra as a work daily instead of the F350 - but here we are.

 

I was honestly shocked how crappy the payload is on the tundra my single cab 4x4 2.7 liter 4cylinder Tacoma has a higher payload!!

 

Yup. I also have a Dodge/Cummins dually. Didn't take long to adjust to the size of the crew cab dually...you just realize it ain't gonna fit in no compact car parking spot.